Two-year-old Philippines child dies of HIV/AIDS

According to authorities, the child acquired the virus from one of his parents

A two-year-old boy in Zamboanga City in the Philippines has died due to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

According to authorities, the child got the virus from one of his parents. Following his death, health officials are expressing alarm over how the disease has affected the general population in the city, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

Dr. Kibtiya Uddin, assistant city health officer, said that all parts of the population, regardless of gender and age were already affected by the disease.

“It is alarming because it means that HIV/AIDS is no longer in a typical sexual transmission mode but has already affected the general population,” Uddin said.

Uddin said 99% of HIV/AIDS transmission was through sexual activity, but another way the disease is transmitted is through pregnancy.

In Zamboanga City, there are currently two cases of pregnant mothers with HIV/AIDs and two children aged six and seven are infected. The two children got the virus from their mothers.

“We don’t know the nutritional status of these two kids but we are looking into it now. We will try to do something to prolong their lives,” Uddin said.